This post-holiday, pre-spring stretch of the year can feel pretty gloomy. We’re past the solstice, but it is most definitely still winter. Days are still short, weather is still cold, storms are still storming.
If you’re anything like me the moment the holiday decorations come down you get the itch to start planting and working in the garden. Only, it’s too early for that. At least, it is where I live. I get up and leave for work before the sun rises, sit at my desk pushing paper for a good portion of the day, then the sun sets at about 4:30pm and that’s it. Most days, I’m not really interested in going to bed quite that early, so in an attempt to avoid just eating myself into a food coma and passing out early, I like to fill that time with something a bit more productive. I find winter evenings a wonderful time to cozy up with something good to read. Mental labor is still labor, right?
Which brings me to this list of some of my favorite winter reads. These are tried and true titles that I heartily recommend. I’ve read most of these many times over, and will likely read them all many times more.
Cozy Classics
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Generations of readers have fallen in love with the March sisters, and if you are not among them, perhaps this is the year. I will admit that it took me an embarrassingly long time to pull this book from the shelf (though it had been sitting there in full view for years). I am so glad I made my way to this timeless tale. It is just so cozy, and delightful, and lovely. Seriously, if you haven’t read it yet, do! And if you have, then you know what I mean and maybe it’s time for a reread…
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prairie gets all the attention, but this, first book of the series was always my favorite. As a child, I loved to read the stories of Laura’s life in a log cabin in the woods. As an adult, I still love to read the stories. There is something undeniably cozy about the whole series, enough that I like to give all nine books another chance to transport me every so often.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I can’t explain why this book feels like winter to me, it just does. Maybe it’s that the book opens at Christmas, or that it —, or maybe it’s just that I read it for the first time in December. Maybe, and I suspect this to be the most likely reason of all, it is that the whole book has an overwhelming sense of melancholy, which I kind of associate with the season. Whatever the case may be, this is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time and absolutely Dickens’ best. I am not willing to entertain arguments to the contrary. The characters are original and timeless, the symbolism rich, the narrative complex and somehow completely relatable. I seriously love this book and hope you will too.
P.S. How much do we love Ms. Havisham? She is just *chef’s kiss*
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Another childhood classic that I could read a hundred times. In my youth, this was a fun adventure story about four children who travel to a magical fantasy land via secret passage. As an adult I am much more aware of the allegory and symbolism woven through the story, but that doesn’t mean I like it any less. This is my absolute favorite book in the series. The characters are well-written and well-developed, the villain is wonderfully wicked, there is a fantastic redemption arc, and it will leave you longing for a return to a place you have never actually been. It’s a great read anytime, but given that Narnia is a land of perpetual winter it feels like a solid choice for the season.
Winter Vibes
East by Edith Pattou
This retelling of the underappreciated Norwegian fairy tale “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” is beautifully crafted to the point that I can almost feel the tingle of cold as I read. Nordic folklore and fairytales are intricately woven throughout the beauty-and-the-beastesque tale, as well as historically accurate bits about 16th century Scandinavia. Rose is an incredibly well-crafted protagonist, the antagonists are fleshed-out well enough to be multi-faceted and believable (as far as fantastical beings can be), and all the side characters bring their own flair to the story.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
When I tell you I cried while reading this one… in a good way though. Ove is a curmudgeonly man with a strict routine and a short fuse. He is grumpy, and miserable and skeptical of everything, but he is also hilarious and sneakily charming. The story is somber and emotional, but also laced with hope and a sense of quiet celebration. So, yes, I cried, but I also laughed and smiled and grieved and really just ran the whole spectrum of emotion. Ove is an unforgettable story of love & loss, of family & friendship, of risks & rewards. It is heartwarming and beautiful and should absolutely be on your list this winter
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This one is not overtly wintery, as it neither takes place during the winter, nor in an especially “wintery” part of the world, but that was never a pre-requisite for this list so it’s here anyway. I will forever recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Don’t let the recent Netflix series fool you—they did NOT follow the book as closely as we readers would have hoped, and the ending is different! I legitimately do not have words sufficient to tell you just how magnificent this book is. It is just the most beautiful piece of prose I have ever read. The story is primarily told alternating between the experiences of Marie Laure, a young blind girl in France, and Werner, a young German soldier during World War II. The story is beautiful & heartbreaking, filled with imagery and a sense of magic against the backdrop of a war-torn world. Read this one with a handkerchief at hand.
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Again, not overtly wintery, but as this book is absolutely filled with sentiment and nostalgia it kind of has a seasonal vibe. My Antonia isn’t a novel so much as a loosely gathered collection of stories in which the characters progress through time. Jim and Antonio are children together arriving in Nebraska on the same train, and the book is a recounting of their lives as told by Jim as he remembers Antonia to a mutual friend. Along the way the characters (Jim, Antonia and others) grow up, lose their illusions, make their way in the world and find themselves, all against the vast nothingness of the American prairie. The descriptions of the landscape are phenomenal and the characters are people you root for.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer
This epistolary novel set shortly after the conclusion of WWII tells the story of the occupation of the island of Guernsey and a remarkable community of people living there through the war. The telling of a story through the exchange of correspondence with friends and loved ones allows for a warmth and tenderness sometimes (understandingly) absent from books about war. There is something soothing about this book and its characters. Maybe it’s the shared love of books, maybe the resilience and charm of the characters, maybe it’s just that it makes me want a pen pal. I don’t know for sure, but whatever it is it’s so
Nonfiction/Planning Ahead
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book. Y’all…
The author somehow manages to weave together her expertise as a botanist (with a doctoral degree) and the ancient indigenous wisdom she was raised with in a way that is both aspirational and accessible. How? I have no idea, but it’s fantastic. I especially appreciate the parallels she draws between stories (some might say parables) and the science to back them. This is a perfect read for anyone longing to connect more deeply with the living world and be a better steward of the earth.
The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan (editor)
The perfect how-to guide for beginners, this book is specifically geared to those of us wanting to homestead without the benefit of access to a large plot of land. With practical advice and applicable knowledge, we learn how to make the most of small spaces—from 1/10 of an acre (4000ish square feet) to ½ an acre and everything in between. As the name implies, this is your go-to backyard homestead resource.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Best known for her novels, including The Poisonwood Bible (really good book, worth a read), this one is something of a departure for author Barbara Kingsolver. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is part memoir, part journalistic investigation about the journey she and her family took during a yearlong commitment to only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grown themselves, or done without. If you have ever questioned the adage “you are what you eat,” this one is for you.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary Gladstar is widely recognized as the godmother of modern herbalism and is renowned worldwide for her knowledge and teachings regarding the practice of herbalism. In this guide, Rosemary (I like to pretend we are on a first name basis) provides in depth profiles of thirty-three of the most commen and versatile herbs to help you grow, harvest, prepare and use each herb. Packed full with useful information, step-by-step instructions, plenty of pictures, and simple recipes, this guide deserves a spot on your shelf and some time in your hands.
Body Into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care by Maria Noel Groves
This is one of those books that I find myself referencing again and again and again. More than an herbal guide, Body Into Balance is rich and expansive in information, well researched, and incredibly helpful without getting bogged down by too much technical information or jargon. Groves really focuses on whole-body health—mental health, emotional health, diet & nutrition, sleep and more are discussed in detail—with a good amount of information regarding the science of human physiology and how to take a natural approach to supporting your body systems. Sounds like a lot, but it’s honestly so interesting and not at all overwhelming. Honestly.
Vegetables Love Flowers: Companion Planting for Beauty and Bounty by Lisa Mason Ziegler
Okay, so I actually think the title (or, more accurately, the subtitle) is a bit misleading as there isn’t as much discussion of companion planting as I had hoped. However, the information and experience shared in this book is both interesting and helpful. Ziegler really hones in on how adding cut flowers to your garden can benefit everything growing therein (including critters and bugs). A wonderful guide for attracting pollinators and other beneficial life to your garden as well as adding some beauty that can be enjoyed indoors and out, this one is worth a read, particularly as you get closer to planning/planting your garden.